SDHP Physical Requirements

Minimum Standards

Vertical jump

The vertical jump measures the ability to summon up a burst of muscular power. The eligible applicant must make a mark as high as he or she can reach on a wall, keeping his or her heels on the ground. Then the applicant must jump as high as he or she can, crouching down first and swinging his or her arm up to carry them higher, making another mark as far up on the wall as possible. The number of inches between the two marks is the jump height. The examiner shall rate the eligible applicant’s vertical jump ability according to the chart above.

Sit-ups

The sit-up test is a measure of muscular endurance or the ability to contract musculature repetitively over a period of time. The eligible applicant shall start by lying on his or her back, knees bent, heels flat on the floor, arms crossed on the chest with hands touching opposite shoulders. A partner shall hold the feet down. From the lying position, the eligible applicant must come to a sitting position, touch the leg below the knee with his or her elbows, and then return to a lying position with the lower back touching the ground. The eligible applicant must not rebound, but allow the lower back to fully relax before beginning the next repetition. The eligible applicant shall perform as many correct sit-ups as possible within a one-minute time limit. The examiner shall rate the eligible applicant’s sit-up ability according to the chart above.

Push-ups

To complete the push-up agility test, the eligible applicant must lie face down with hands placed next to his or her shoulders and push his or her entire body, including legs, off the floor until his or her arms are straight. This is the starting position for performing push-ups. A partner shall place his or her fist on the floor below the eligible applicant’s chest. Keeping his or her back straight at all times, the eligible applicant shall lower him or herself from the starting position until his or her chest touches his or her partner’s fist. The eligible applicant shall push back up to the starting position and repeat as many times as possible. There is no time limit. The partner shall cease counting with the first incomplete push-up. The examiner shall rate the eligible applicant’s push-up ability according to the chart above.

One and one-half mile run

The eligible applicant may cover the 1.5 mile run course at his or her own pace and as his or her condition allows. This test is designed to measure endurance. The examiner shall rate the eligible applicant’s endurance according to the chart above.